Cecil Gaines Quotes in The Butler (2013)

Cecil Gaines: America has always turned a blind eye to what we done to our own. We look out to the world and judge. We hear about the concentration camps but these camps went on for two hundred years right here in America.

Freddie Fallows: Are you political, Mr. Gaines?

Cecil Gaines: No, sir.

Freddie Fallows: Good. We have no tolerance for politics at the White House.

Cecil Gaines: Vietnam took my boy, and I didn't understand why we were there in the first place.

Gloria Gaines: [looking at a picture of her granddaughter] I mean, really, Shaquanda. What kind of name is that?

Cecil Gaines: [laughing] Ain't nobody done nothing to spite you.

Gloria Gaines: Yes she did. She a ugly little old girl, too. That little pug nose. I hope she grow out of it.

Cecil Gaines: Now you need to stop that, you know that ain't right.

Gloria Gaines: Don't you think she look a little like Louis around the mouth?

Cecil Gaines: I think... she look just like you.

Gloria Gaines: Like me?

Cecil Gaines: Yeah, so you need to

[laughing]

Cecil Gaines: so you need to stop talking about her.

Gloria Gaines: Let me look at her again then, real good. She do look a little bit like me. She a pretty little thing.

Cecil Gaines: I don't think God meant for people to not have a family.

Louis Gaines: Something special is going on down here, Dad.

Cecil Gaines: What's so special about another colored man in jail?

[first lines]

Cecil Gaines: The only thing I ever knew was cotton. It was hard work.

Cecil Gaines: You must look through your eyes, see what it is that they want, see what it is that they need, anticipate, bring a smile to the principal's eyes.

Cecil Gaines: I'm Cecil Gaines. I'm the new butler.